Cora - Orientation

Identification.
The Cora are an ethnic group who live almost exclusively in the state
of Nayarit, Mexico. The terms "Nayares,"
"Nayaritas," and "Coras-nayaritas" are
derived from the name of an ancient political-religious leader. In 1722,
when the Cora were conquered by the Spaniards, the mummy of the Great
Nayar was discovered on the Mesa del Nayar. He was at one time the
principal Cora oracle, through which the Sun responded to Cora queries.
The mummy was taken to Mexico City to be judged by the Holy Inquisition.
In 1723 the Inquisition condemned it to the flames
"por ser falsos y prohibidos los cultos y sacrificios con que
le solemnizaban . . . los nayaritas ...
" ("because the rites and sacrifices which they, the
Nayaritas, believe in are false"). It is interesting to note that
the state was named "Nayarit," after this legendary
personage, despite the inquisitorial condemnation.

Location.
The present territory of the Cora is bounded on the north by the state
of Durango; on the east by the mestizo communities of San Juan
Peyotán, Santa Rosa, Ejido de Higuera Gorda, and Huaynamota, and
the Huichol community of San Andrés Cohamiata; on the south by
the right bank of the river formed by the rivers Jesús
María and Chapalanga as they join before they discharging into
the Río Santiago; and on the west by the coastal plain of
Nayarit. The region that the Cora occupy has an area of 4,912 square
kilometers. The majority of their territory is within the Sierra of
Nayarit, a place that is mountainous and without level ground except for
the Valley of Huajimic and regions around Camotlán and Santa
Teresa. The Sierra of Nayarit is a mountain complex that runs from
21°30′ to 23°00′ N. The Cora inhabit lands
with elevations ranging from 460 to 2,500 meters above sea level. Their
territory is made hospitable in the south by the waters of the
Río Santiago, in the east by those of the Río Jesús
María, and in the north by those of the Río San Pedro.

The Cora live primarily in ten communities located in three
municipios:
El Nayar, Rosa Morada, and Acaponeta, all in the state of Nayarit. Four
of these communities—Jesús María, Mesa del Nayar,
Santa Teresa, and San Francisco—are the most important. The other
six—San Lucas, Saycota, San Blasito, Rosarito, San Juan Corapan,
and San Pedro Ixcatán—are of lesser importance and
surround the primary communities.

Demography.
When the Spanish arrived, small groups of Cora were scattered
throughout the mountains. How many Cora there were at that time is
unknown. At the end of the fourteenth century, there were between 2,500
and 3,000. The population rose to 6,242 in 1960 and to 7,043 in 1970.
The 1990 census registered 11,434 Cora living in Nayarit and 489 living
in other states.

Linguistic Affiliation.
Cora is a member of the Uto-Aztecan Language Family. When the Spanish
arrived in Nayarit, the following languages were being spoken:
Zayahueco, Totorame, Tecual, Tecualme, Tecoxquin (also spelled
Tecosquin), Coano, Cora, Huichol, and Tepehuán. Most of these
languages have since disappeared; only the Cora, Huichol, and Tepehua,
mountain people who entrenched themselves in the highlands, have
retained their indigenous languages.